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Author Notes: I learned to make this risotto in Tuscany with my wonderful friends at Tutti a Tavola. They made everything seem so natural and easy, and removed all my 'risotto fear'. I came straight home and ordered a pan similar to theirs (broad bottomed pan with 4-5 inch sides) and I've been making risotto ever since. Because the risotto spreads out over this broad base, it doesn't seem to be labor intensive. —Annelle

Fill a large bottomed pan with about 2 inches of water. Add seafood seasoning and salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When boiling, add half shrimp, cover, and boil for one and a half minutes. Remove shrimp with slotted spoon to bowl of ice. Add remaining shrimp to pan and repeat. Strain cooking liquid into sauce pan and set aside (SAVE BROTH). Remove shrimp from ice bath and peel and devein, throwing shells away.

Cut tips from tender ends of asparagus, and add tips to vegetable broth over medium heat. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, just until tender. Remove asparagus tips with slotted spoon to ice bath, cool, remove from ice bath and set aside.
Add reserved shrimp broth to vegetable broth and keep at a low simmer.

Add rice and stir until rice is nicely coated and mixed with vegetables. Continue to stir for a minute or two, and then add wine. Stir until wine is nearly all absorbed by rice.

Add lemon zest, and about one cup of simmering broth. Stir occasionally until broth is nearly absorbed, and add another cup of broth. Repeat the process until rice is of proper consistency, and most of broth has been added. Rice should be tender on the outside with just a tiny 'bite' left on the inside. This takes about 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the bottom of your pan.

Remove from heat and add one tablespoon butter, and parmesan cheese, and stir vigorously to combine. Add a little more warm broth if needed. Risotto should have a creamy, almost soupy consistency while retaining that tiny little 'bite' in the center of the grains. Cover and let rest for a couple of minutes.

Serve risotto in bowls with a nice spoonful of shrimp with lemon shallot butter, topping each serving with a few reserved asparagus tips.

(Note: seafood risottos generally omit cheese, but the parmesan cheese in this recipe combines beautifully with the baked shrimp.)